AndrewM

Is there any harm in putting a little food dye or some equivalent into new brake fluid to help judge when the old fluid is bleeding out during a regular maintenance bleeding? I just get tired of paying the high price for the Super Blue brake fluid. Thanks..
Drew
89 C4
86 930

cmoss

I'm under the impression that it would be a very bad idea. Brake fluid is a special sport of fluid refered to as "incompressible." Any such dye would be water based. Water in brake fluid is very bad. Not only do the brakes get mushy (water compresses), BUT the water can lead to corrosion of the brake lines.---> Leading to sudden brake failure.

ATE makes/made a blue fluid. If one would alternate blue/clear/blue with fluid changes, then one could tell. Usually I just bleed 'em till the bubbles are gone/fluid is clear.
Cheers,
Chris

Bill Gregory

Best price I've found on ATE Super Blue or Typ 200 is the minimum 4 can order price of $8.95 per can from OG Racing (www.ogracing.com).

M758

Ate Super Blue is blue and Typ 200 is amber. Both are the same specs (made by Ate) except for the color. Technically the blue is not DOT leagal since the regs require the amber color that is why there are two.
You can mix and alternate between the two.Probably your best option.

Paragon Products sells both types by the single can for 10.95 I think.

Chris Martin

I second the use of ATE Blue. Also, I have used some off the shelf $1 fluid in between the blue stuff to know when it's all gone. Rather than pump out good ATE gold I dont mind wasting a can of the cheap stuff and then re-filling with ATE Blue.

Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems

Just an FYI on the ATE Super Blue brake fluid,....

ATE is no longer importing that stuff as DOT told them to cease bringing it in,......As noted above, current laws forbid any dyes being added to brake fluids sold in this country.

The only ATE brake fluid you can get is the Type # 200 amber stuff which is chemically identical.

When current inventory of Super Blue runs out, thats it.

dhoward

[quote]Originally posted by cmoss:
<strong>...Not only do the brakes get mushy (water compresses), BUT the water can lead to corrosion of the brake lines....
</strong><hr></blockquote>

Just for the record, water does NOT compress, but will boil much earlier than brake fluid creating steam. Steam expands, causing the pads to drag, heating the brakes further. However, steam is compressable, meaning that any pressure on the brake pedal will be mostly ineffective. (experienced first-hand racing motocross).
Dan

Ed Bighi

For real Steve? No dyes allowed in brake fluid? I tell you, we have some weird laws in this "free country" of ours.

Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems

[quote]Originally posted by Ed Bighi:
<strong>For real Steve? No dyes allowed in brake fluid? I tell you, we have some weird laws in this "free country" of ours.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Hi Ed:

Sorry sir, for real, indeed.

The archaic DOT laws forbid any dye added to brake fluid sold in this country, and ATE finally gave in, even after pleading that Super Blue was intended for off-road use only.

This was announced about 90 days ago and when current stocks are gone, its Type # 200 only. Its the same stuff, just amber-colored.